Study it in the app“by the El of your father, who will help you, and by Shaddai, who will bless you with blessings of the heavens above, blessings of the deep that lies below, blessings of the breasts and of the womb.”
by the Elמֵאֵלof your father,אָבִיךָwho will help you,וְיַעְזְרֶךָּand byוְאֵתShaddai,שַׁדַּיwho will bless youוִיבָרְכֶךָּwith blessingsבִּרְכֹתof the heavensשָׁמַיִםabove,מֵעָלblessingsבִּרְכֹתof the deepתְּהוֹםthat liesרֹבֶצֶתbelow,תָּחַתblessingsבִּרְכֹתof the breastsשָׁדַיִםand of the womb.וָרָחַם
El, God, god
"El", an ancient Hebrew word for "God". Alone or with another title it is a name of the God of Israel: El Elyon (God Most High), El Shaddai (God Almighty). Neighboring peoples used the same word for their gods; then this translation writes "god" in lower case. It also means "mighty".
Where else “el” appearsfather
The man who begets a child and heads his household.
Where else “avi” appearshelp
To stand beside someone to give him strength or free him from a bind.
Where else “yazre” appearsShaddai, Almighty
"Shaddai": an ancient name of God, above all in Genesis and Job. It is usually translated "Almighty"; the exact origin of the word is not certain.
Where else “shaday” appearsbless
God gives good things: life, children, harvests.
Where else “yvarche” appearsblessing
The good God gives, or words asking for it.
Where else “birchot” appearssky
The high space seen above the earth, where the birds, clouds, sun and stars are.
Where else “shamayim” appearsthe deep
The deep waters: the deep sea, the ocean, and the waters under the earth. In the Hebrew Bible it is not a place of punishment or the place of the dead.
Where else “tehom” appearslie down, crouch
Lie down, crouch, like an animal at rest or lying in wait.
Where else “rovetset” appearsbreasts
Breasts (of a nursing mother).
Where else “shadayim” appearswomb
The part of a mother's body where the child grows before birth.
Where else “racham” appears24but his bow remained steady, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob, from there, the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel,
25 · This verse (above)
26The blessings of your father have prevailed over the blessings of my ancestors, up to the bounds of the eternal hills. May they be on the head of Joseph, on the crown of the head of the one consecrated among his brothers.
1. What it says
What did Jacob say about Judah and Joseph in his blessings (vv. 8-12, 22-26)?
2. What it means
What does it show that Jacob gave each son a different blessing (v. 28)?
3. How I live it
How can you recognize what is distinct and unique in each person in your family?
